03896,03.13.2016,WhereAreTheAnswersWhenWeNeedThem,Job 13.20–27

03896 Where Are the Answers When We Need Them?; Job 13.20?27;

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Purpose: To show how God dealt with the questions of Job and how God's method satisfied Job

Where Are the Answers When We Need Them?

Learn how Job found peace Job 13.20?27

Don Ruhl ? Savage Street, Grants Pass, Oregon ? March 13, In the year of our Lord, 2016 Song Leader and Song Suggestions: Kevin Michael ? Songs emphasizing God's control or our trust in Him

Prelude: I. We want answers NOW!

A. Some people do not like our capitalist culture, but B. they like the service culture it created, because

1. we demand service, and 2. we get it...NOW! II. Anything that we want to know, A. we can find as fast as we can type, no B. even faster, because 1. as we type in a search engine, 2. it finishes our question for us.

a) We hit return and b) instantly we have countless results. III. Grandparents Day is March 17 at my granddaughters's school. A. So I put it on my computer calendar. B. When I started to put in what school, 1. it did a quick search of every place in America (or was it of the world?), 2. with a similar name, but a) as I typed more, b) it found the correct one, and

(1) I hit Return, and (2) by doing that

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(a) it could tell me how long it will take to get there, and (b) asked if I wanted an alert to remind me when to leave. IV. Before we go somewhere, A. we can discover what the weather will be...by the hour! B. We can know the weather everywhere at anytime! V. Why then should we wait when it comes to suffering and the issues of life? A. We go to the doctor and find a cure for just about everything. B. We have drugs to combat the most powerful diseases. 1. Yet, when it comes to the reasons for our personal suffering, 2. we run into the wall of mystery. a) We want answers, but b) they do not appear as immediately, if at all. VI. The Book of Job shows us A. the mysteries of suffering and B. the mysteries of God. 1. Job had questions for God and 2. demands of Him, even as we do. a) However, God answered Job with a multitude of questions. b) Yet, in the questions, Job found his answer. VII.Let us put ourselves in Job's suffering and A. see what he learned about suffering and God. B. Perhaps we will find the same wisdom that Job found. VIII.First, let us remember what Job suffered. A. The Sabeans (ancient Yemen) stole Job's 500 oxen and 500 female donkeys and killed the servants, except one. B. Fire, perhaps lightning, killed Job's 7,000 sheep and the servants, except one.

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C. The Chaldeans took his 3,000 camels and killed the servants, except one.

D. A powerful wind destroyed the house of Job's oldest son, where Job's ten children had gathered, killing all of them, except one servant.

E. Then Satan afflicted Job with painful boils from the top of his head to the bottom of his foot. "Boils...are painful, pus-filled bumps that form under your skin when bacteria infect and inflame one or more of your hair follicles" (Mayo Clinic Web Site).

F. He lost the support of his wife when she encouraged him to die, 9 "Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!" (Job 2.9).

G.His friends, initially supportive of him, turned against him,

2 "How long will you speak these things, And the words of your mouth be like a strong wind?" (Job 8.2)

H.Children despised him,

18 "Even young children despise me; I arise, and they speak against me." (Job 19.18)

I. The young people, whose fathers Job treated well, mocked him,

1 "But now they mock at me, men younger than I, Whose fathers I disdained to put with the dogs of my flock." (Job 30.1)

J. Because he had to break open the boils to let the pus run out, and because he sat on the ground in ashes, he mentions this about his skin,

5 "My flesh is caked with worms and dust, My skin is cracked and breaks out afresh." (Job 7.5)

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K. You get the picture.

IX. Yet, Job had lived the right kind of life, 1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil (Job 1.1).

X. Therefore, he wanted to know why he suffered,

19 "How long? Will You not look away from me, And let me alone till I swallow my saliva?

20 Have I sinned? What have I done to You, O watcher of men? Why have You set me as Your target, So that I am a burden to myself?

21a Why then do You not pardon my transgression, And take away my iniquity?" (Job 7.19?21a)

2 "I will say to God, `Do not condemn me; Show me why You contend with me.

3 Does it seem good to You that You should oppress, That You should despise the work of Your hands, And smile on the counsel of the wicked? (Job 10.2?3)

23 How many are my iniquities and sins? Make me know my transgression and my sin.

24 Why do You hide Your face, And regard me as Your enemy?" (Job 13.23?24)

XI. We then discover great truths in the Book of Job.

Persuasion:

I. God: The Powerful One 2 "Who is this who darkens counsel By words without knowledge? 3 Now prepare yourself like a man;

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I will question you, and you shall answer Me. 4 Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?

Tell Me, if you have understanding." (Job 38.2?4)

A. From there to chapter 41,

1. God asked Job numerous questions about nature.

2. All the questions ask Job if he did any of the things of nature:

a) Who made boundaries for the seas? (38.8?11)

b) Who can bind the constellations? (38.31?33)

c) Who put wisdom into man? (38.36)

d) Who provides for all the animals? (Chapter 39)

3. I like this one, 19 "Have you given the horse strength? Have you clothed his neck with thunder? 20 Can you frighten him like a locust? His majestic snorting strikes terror. 21 He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength; He gallops into the clash of arms. 22 He mocks at fear, and is not frightened; Nor does he turn back from the sword. 23 The quiver rattles against him, The glittering spear and javelin. 24 He devours the distance with fierceness and rage; Nor does he come to a halt because the trumpet has sounded. 25 At the blast of the trumpet he says, `Aha!' He smells the battle from afar, The thunder of captains and shouting." (Job 39.19?25)

B. What then did God do with Job's questions? 1. God blasted Job's questions out of the water, 2. showing Job that he has no idea how to run life on the Earth.

C. Job got the point,

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